Bikes and Roses

It’s summer and if you’re reading this blog right now, stop it, shut off your computer and go outside. OK, I know that for some of you, it’s winter, so you can keep reading, but for those of you for whom it’s summer, come back when the summer’s over :)

This time of year, I’m outside all the time (except when I’m at work during the day). After work, I’m out in the yard. On the weekends I’m out in the yard or at the beach. That’s probably why my posts have been more sporadic recently. I’ve also noticed that I’ve had fewer visitors. Of course, it’s possible that it’s not summer at all that is behind the drop in my stats. It could be that people are getting bored with me.

Anyway, Joe and I spent the weekend up at Singing Beach in Manchester (by-the-Sea). It’s a lovely beach. The water was unseasonably warm. The air temperature was in the upper 80s on Saturday and in the low 90s on Sunday, which might explain why the water was so warm. It was great. We swam and played in the surf for long stretches at a time, we ate, we napped. A few friends joined us as well.

Today after work, Joe and I rode our bikes to Dedham. I picked up my new bike last Friday. I can’t get over how easy it is to shift gears compared to my old ten speed. If I’m feeling ambitious later in the week—and it’s not in the 90s—I may ride my bike to work. It’s probably about an hour or so, but a pleasant enough ride. I’m a bit concerned about how much energy I’ll have to bike home after work, but we’ll see.

After our ride, I watered the plants outside and noticed that two new rose bushes that I planted this season had finally bloomed. I really love roses. I’m not a fanatic about them, and I don’t recall what either variety is called, because I didn’t save the tags. But I’m very meticulous about caring for them once they’re in the ground (though I did lose two bushes this past winter because they weren’t properly wrapped, but that’s because I was in Ukraine for six weeks in the fall). I fertilize, I prune, I spray. I enjoy.

Although neither was as fragrant as I’d hoped, they’re both beautiful. I think I prefer the pale yellow, almost whitish one to the red. I also planted a climbing rose that hasn’t bloomed yet, but it’s doing very well. I’ll post some pics of that one as soon as it blooms.